My kids are at a primary school recently viewed as Outstanding by Ofsted. Fantastic teachers, and ambitious head. Head has been assisting two days a week in near-by primary school which is on special measures. They've got unhappy, demotivated teachers with an interim head.
Diocese, LEA, Head and (allegedly) both governing bodies are all for a Federation on the basis that it will help school on special measures, and that it will offer wider opportunities for staff at successful school.
I can quite see how failing school will be helped, and I am more than happy to help. BUT with teachers at successful school already working flat out, when are they supposed to go and teach at failing school - either in the small hours of the night (not exactly practical) or when they should be teaching my kids. And if they're not teaching my kids, it means we get supply teachers in. And where's the continuity in that?
I'm not totally against the Federation, I just wanted to know if there are circumstances in which it is a good thing and I would love to hear good examples! At the moment all I can see is that it is great for the Diocese and the LEA (only one HT is needed, economies of scale re purchasing etc), great for the failing school (otherwise they close) but not good for our school. Help me out here!